Book Description

From masterful storyteller Michael J. Tougias comes a new, heart-stopping true-life tale of maritime disaster, his most thrilling and amazing story yet.

In May 2005, Tom Tighe, captain of a forty-five-foot-long sailboat named the Almeisan, and his first mate, Loch Reidy, welcomed three new crewmembers for a five-day voyage from Connecticut across the blue waters of the Gulf Stream to sun-drenched Bermuda. The new crew included forty-six-year-old Kathy Gilchrist, seventy-year-old Ron Burd, and thirty-four-year-old Chris Ferrer. Although Tighe had made the trip forty-eight times, with Reidy accompanying him on twenty of those voyages, the rest of the crew had joined to learn more about offshore sailing.

Four days into the voyage, an enormous storm struck, sweeping two of the crew into the towering sea. The remaining crewmembers managed to stay aboard the vessel as it was slowly torn apart by the rampaging ocean. Overboard! follows the simultaneous desperate struggles of both those still on the boat and those fighting for their lives in the sea.

The Coast Guard, alerted to the Almeisan’s distress, rushed to the storm-tossed scene. Their ensuing search and rescue mission proved so spectacularly difficult and dangerous that it was later selected—from among thousands of incidents—as the Guard’s search and rescue case of the year. Highly trained helicopter pilots and rescue swimmers alike found themselves in almost as much trouble as those trapped by the ferocious ocean.

By turns tragic, thrilling, and deeply inspiring, Overboard! is a riveting, fast-paced story of death and survival at sea—amazing, unforgettable, and all true.

From masterful storyteller Michael J. Tougias comes a new, heart-stopping true-life tale of maritime disaster, his most thrilling and amazing story yet.

In May 2005, Tom Tighe, captain of a forty-five-foot-long sailboat named the Almeisan, and his first mate, Loch Reidy, welcomed three new crewmembers for a five-day voyage from Connecticut across the blue waters of the Gulf Stream to sun-drenched Bermuda. The new crew included forty-six-year-old Kathy Gilchrist, seventy-year-old Ron Burd, and thirty-four-year-old Chris Ferrer. Although Tighe had made the trip forty-eight times, with Reidy accompanying him on twenty of those voyages, the rest of the crew had joined to learn more about offshore sailing.

Four days into the voyage, an enormous storm struck, sweeping two of the crew into the towering sea. The remaining crewmembers managed to stay aboard the vessel as it was slowly torn apart by the rampaging ocean. Overboard! follows the simultaneous desperate struggles of both those still on the boat and those fighting for their lives in the sea.

The Coast Guard, alerted to the Almeisan’s distress, rushed to the storm-tossed scene. Their ensuing search and rescue mission proved so spectacularly difficult and dangerous that it was later selected—from among thousands of incidents—as the Guard’s search and rescue case of the year. Highly trained helicopter pilots and rescue swimmers alike found themselves in almost as much trouble as those trapped by the ferocious ocean.

By turns tragic, thrilling, and deeply inspiring, Overboard! is a riveting, fast-paced story of death and survival at sea—amazing, unforgettable, and all true.

Editorial Reviews

Tougias, who with Ten Hours until Dawn (2005) rivaled Sebastian Junger (The Perfect Storm, 1997) in the telling of harrowing experiences at sea, returns with the tale of the yachts Almeisan and At Ease. Caught in a vast storm off the East Coast in spring 2005, the two experienced sailors aboard Almeisan were washed overboard. The captain died, but his first mate survived, thanks to a Filipino merchant ship, and the Almeisan’s three working passengers fast-learned enough seamanship to last until the Coast Guard arrived. The crew of At Ease all survived, but their ordeal was only slightly less harrowing, and the descriptions of it are quite as vivid. Tougias has a knack for getting those who go down to the sea in ships (or, sometimes, nearly under it in yachts) to talk to him and for weaving thoroughly absorbing sea stories out of what they disclose to him. Maritime history and adventure fans need this one. QY: add hyphen to Blue-water in bib data title? Per S&S Web site --Roland Green

Review

“The power of Overboard! is much like an Atlantic storm. Michael Tougias lures us into a routine voyage to Bermuda with experienced crews and well found boats until we find ourselves utterly tossed about not only by the nightmare that ensues but also the courage, tenacity, and selflessness displayed by all caught up in the tempest. This is a survival story that ends in both tragedy and triumph, and through its players we are touched by a collective grace equal to the devastation that strikes them.”

--Steve Callahan, survivor and author of New York Timesbestseller, Adrift

The misery, sea sickness, cold, terror and fight to survive offshore sailors sometimes experience is captured in this book about this 45' boat sailing to Bermuda from Connecticut in early May, 2005. The 65 year old captain had made 48 round trips to Bermuda and he and the boat could not be more experienced. The captain even taught offshore sailing! He and his first mate had made many passages together and on this trip took 3 people looking to increase their offshore experience. Did they ever! The boat got into the storm of their lives that sank or damaged several other boats. They were half way to Bermuda when the storm hit, well out of Coast Guard helo range. Will the boat sink? Will they all survive or will any survive?Having raced to Bermuda three times I can identify with this captain and crew, and could not put the book down. It is an extremely will written true suspense and survival story. For serious sailors there are many lessons to be learned or relearned from the fight for survival they experienced.

One of the statements on `Overboard's' back book cover says "you will not be able to put this book down" and that is certainly no exaggeration. Even if you have never sailed before you will know what it is like after reading this.There is an excellent prologue explaining the Gulf Stream - its' effects on the ocean and sailing and the weather. Even if you do not know the technicalities of sail, the explanations that are in the story are well done, simple and interesting and add to the action. You can feel the love of sail and the respect of what water can do to a boat.This is also a story of praise to the Coast Guard, how they work and put their lives on the line in harrowing conditions in order to save other lives. If you do not realize what the men and women of this under appreciated service do, you will after finishing this book. That part of this story is nothing short of amazing; the rescue of sailors in the worst conditions imaginable.Anyone, no matter what their connection to boating and the sea will find this an interesting story of people out on the water in a sinking boat, and actually in the water without a lifeboat. You will know what it is like to face waves that are like solid mountains - that can damage the largest ship, much less a smaller sail boat out in unexpected weather. Pick up this book when you have the time, because, you will not be able to put it down.

I have lived on the water all my life, even assisting my Dad who was a commercial fisherman. Allthough I'm not that familiar with sailboats, it didn't matter. I could not put this book down and read it in 2 days which for me is really something. The writer really made you feel you were part of the voyage and the tragedy. The depictions of what the Captain, crew and guests were going through was so alive. An amazing voyage for me. I have recommened it to all my friends who sail.

I have been acquainted with Loch Reidy and his wife, Sandy, for many years through other friends in Connecticut who told me about the book. However, I hadn't seen them for several years since I now live in New York. Both my husband and I found the story riveting. We still can't imagine how Loch survived - or any of the others on that ship for that matter. I also learned a lot about the Coast Guard rescue teams and think they are beyond amazing as are the commercial ships that aid them when needed.

We just finished Michael Tougis's OVERBOARD and loved every minute. It makes you feel every wave and the sheer terror of being in 30 foot seas. I felt like putting on a life jacket while reading it. Well written and keeps you reading far into the night until it is finished.

This book was exciting, impossible to put down. More than the excitement, however, I found the book inspiring because of the quality of the five people who shared the harrowing experience and the many men and women whose courage enabled these five sailors to survive an experience of nature at its absolute worst. The author not only provides a documentary-style explanation of the forces at work but managed to bring tears to my eyes when describing the feelings of the principals, feelings of despondency, courage, abandonment, joy, celebration, loyalty, to name a few of the emotions plumbed in this work. This is a very talented author, one who pulls the reader in so that he identifies with the action and the characters, a writer who could successfully write in any genre and I wish he would do that, write a good drama, thriller, anything. We need his caliber of talent in other genres.

OVERBOARD! A TRUE BLUE-WATER ODYSSEY OF DISASTER AND SURVIVAL offerings a harrowing story of survival at sea that uses first-hand research from survivors and rescuers alike to tell of the Almeisan and its crew, blindsided by a storm that tested their survival skills and resulted in tragedy. A vivid re-creation of events makes for an outstanding account.

I love fast paced adventure and survival stories and this did not disappoint! Since reading this book, I have collected Michael Tougias' other books as well.

This one is about an experienced captain and first mate who go on a voyage with three new crew members, get slammed by a storm, and the ensuing struggle to survive. The rescue mission is equally enthralling.

Another of my top 20 books which I found impossible to put down. Well written and riveting.

For other books that I found gripping and well worth reading, see my other reviews or my listmania list. I am an avid reader of true adventure and/or survival stories.

More About the Author

I write on a variety of topics which could roughly be grouped as follows:TRUE LIFE MARITIME SUVIVAL STORIES: my books include "Overboard!", "Ten Hours Until Dawn", "The Finest Hours" (co-author) and "Fatal Forecast"